Posted on 01/31/2007 4:33:00 PM PST by SandRat
Nine-day operation nets weapons cache and suspected insurgents with ties to Al Qaeda.
By Sgt. Armando Monroig 5th Mobile Public Affairs
BALAD RUZ, Iraq, Jan. 31, 2007 — The U.S. Army concluded a massive, nine-day assault Jan. 13, centered on a series of small villages in the Diyala province that for the past 18 months had been used as a safe haven for insurgents.
During the operation, soldiers from the 5th Squadron, 73rd Cavalry Regiment Reconnaissance, 82nd Airborne Division, killed more than 100 insurgents and detained 54 suspected of involvement with terrorism activities in the area, which is located just south of Balad Ruz.
The unit, located at Forward Operating Base Caldwell, also reported capturing six unnamed leaders of an underground organization thought to have ties to Al Qaeda and other terrorist groups hiding in the villages of Turki, Hamoud, and 30 Tamuz.
In outlying palm groves and canals, soldiers found weapons caches containing more than 1,100 Katushya rockets, 1,500 rocket-propelled grenades, 500 mortars and a variety of bomb-making materials.
Sunni insurgents defended the area with small arms fire, anti-tank mines and improvised explosive devices.
“The effects will be felt just outside this area in places like Baghdad, Baqubah and further out to the west,” said Capt. Stephen Dobbins, the commander of Troop B.
Leaders of the 5-73rd Cav. suspected that insurgents were using the area as a training ground for conducting terrorist activities elsewhere. The villages are an hour’s drive from Baghdad.
Last month, the unit raided the area after finding a large weapons cache there. More than 100 insurgents and two U.S. soldiers were killed in the fighting.
This last assault was bolstered by the Iraqi Army and U.S. Army units from forward operating bases in Muqdadiyah and Baqubah. Air Force B-1 bombers and F-16 fighter-bombers dropped bombs on nearby canals and tunnel systems to destroy insurgent defenses before soldiers moved in to secure the area.
Soldiers battled ankle-deep mud as they cleared canals and villages.
The 5-73rd Cav., along with the Iraqi army, is now in the process of setting up a combat outpost in Turki from which to control the area.
“It will be a place where Coalition Forces and the Iraqi army can work jointly to develop intelligence, plan rehearsals, and execute missions out here,” said Dobbins.
The outpost will also be used to facilitate infrastructure improvement projects and strengthen the area’s education system.
“With the outpost, the Iraqi security forces can provide a safe and secure environment for those in the area who want a better opportunity for their families,” said Lt. Col. Andrew Poppas, the commander of the 5-73rd Cav.
Poppas said that his unit has already begun to assist with the repatriation of village residents driven out by a mostly Sunni insurgency.
“The end state is to create a safe and secure region with a continuous Iraqi Security Forces presence,” said Poppas.
“That way, we deny the enemy a safe haven in which they can conduct illegal acts with impunity,” he said. “You can’t let an environment of extremism remain in a free and safe society.”
Bravo, U.S. Army
This is the best part.
GO ARMY-and THANK YOU
More good news that you probably wont hear on the news tonight.
Have people noticed the numbers of enemy dead rising the last few weeks, or is it my imagination?
I have noticed a rise in the demise of the enemy. A friend of mine who just reenlisted, told me we are killing a lot more than we hear about. My buddy is a sniper.
I agree with your buddy.
And a par-tridge ina pear treeeeeeeee!
seriously, though, this make my ventricles & atria pump faster with delight.
"I LOVE the smell of [captured weapons] in the morning!"
Who let the dogs out? Bush Bush Bush Bush! Kill or capture, I just love that part!
This is the same area where our Regimental HQ was during our rotation (278th ACR TNARNG, 2004-05). I think what has happened is that many of the enemy have fled Al Anbar province and tried to reestablish themselves in Diyala province to be close to Baghdad (this is close to where Zarkawi was killed I think). A few months ago the Weekly Standard had a story about how we could clean up the insurgency which basically called for us to clear the Tigris, Euphrates and Diyala river basins all the way to Baghdad and then have a final, big dust-up to clear the city itself. This might be a sign that we are starting to pursue that strategy.
Bravo Zulu to the troops.
This is the province to where the AlQaida big shots were supposed to flee when news of the surge got out. Oops! Now where was the safe haven?
Oh, yeah! I heard about this on ABC, SeeBS, NBC, etc.!
Didn't you?
Further east, Europe and the Rats hope. We hope straight down.
Well done, Army!
"This is the best part."
The extermination task forces are on the march.
ping....looks like the rules of engagement truly have changed
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